| When I was an Energy Analyst at JCI, my | | | | that climate change just happens, and we are |
| conscience was always reassured that I was doing | | | | entering a period of greater climate change activity, |
| good work by being involved in saving energy and | | | | which, in this instance has little to do with human |
| natural resources. When I explained at a party what I | | | | activity. |
| did for money, people always approved. It was | | | | In any case, the Kyoto Protocol, the Clean Air Act |
| almost as popular as being in the solar energy or wind | | | | and tough EPA standards have begun to put into |
| power business. However, as soon as I opened my | | | | place governmental controls limiting the burning of |
| mouth, their eyes glazed over and they started to | | | | fossil fuels. In many areas of the country those who |
| drift away to the more colorful figures in the room, | | | | surpass their emissions quota are paying steep fines. |
| because, you know, nobody wants to know more | | | | The Extent of Emissions Monitoring Today and in the |
| than a sentence or two about our field. | | | | Near Future |
| One of the benefits of saving energy is that we are | | | | Emissions monitoring has become commonplace in |
| at the same time increasing our air quality, and many | | | | both the Utility and the Commercial and Industrial |
| believe that we may be putting off global warming at | | | | Sector. Approximately 35 states have state-wide |
| the same time. I always wanted to quantify the | | | | permit programs for air pollution. Under the Clean Air |
| reduction in emissions associated with the reduction in | | | | Act, permits are issued by states or, when a state |
| energy use. It would make the customer and I feel a | | | | fails to carry out the Clean Air Act satisfactorily, by |
| little better about our jobs. But, as we were always | | | | the EPA. In some areas (deemed "non-attainment |
| busy putting out fires here and there, I never got a | | | | areas"), the EPA has set limits on NOx, SOx and/or |
| chance. When I worked at SRC Systems (the | | | | VOCs. |
| creator of Metrix), some Metrix users suggested that | | | | The Supreme Court recently ruled favorably on an |
| we insert an emissions module into Metrix so that | | | | EPA request on cleaner air standards. This will directly |
| they could see savings in energy, dollars, and tons of | | | | affect anything that burns gas, coal or oil. We are |
| pollutants. I thought that this was a fantastic idea, | | | | now in the 3-5 year period in which these new rules |
| but we just never found the time to get it done. | | | | that will be implemented. What will happen is that |
| Well, finally, we, at Abraxas Energy Consulting have | | | | some locales' status will change from attainment |
| created the tool, which you can find at You can | | | | (meeting clean air standards) to non-attainment (not |
| enter kWh in monthly or annual periods and get back | | | | meeting clean air standards, and permitting required). |
| a nice report showing tons (or pounds) of CO2, CO, | | | | When new areas become non-attainment areas, |
| NOx, SO2, VOCs, PM10 and Mercury. For example, | | | | industry in that area will be forced to track emissions. |
| Metrix users might want to enter Baseline and Actual | | | | It is suspected by many that in the future, CO2 |
| kWh. The tool is free, and I hope you will use it. It is | | | | emissions limits will also be enforced. (This is more |
| there for you. | | | | likely in Europe than in the United States.) If CO2 |
| What follows is some background on emissions, | | | | limits are enforced, then the impact of CO2 |
| emissions monitoring and tracking, in case you want | | | | standards has the potential to dramatically affect |
| to sound intelligent when talking to your customer or | | | | energy usage decisions. |
| boss. | | | | However on the other hand, nobody believes that |
| Background | | | | the United States Congress will ratify the Kyoto |
| To start with, emissions can be grouped into two | | | | Treaty (which limits CO2 emissions). Many believe |
| major areas of concern: | | | | that the Kyoto Treaty would make CO2 abatement |
| Those emissions that pollute the air, cause acid rain, | | | | needlessly expensive, and there are others who |
| and kill wildlife and older people (CO, NOx, SO2, | | | | believe global warming has little to do with human |
| VOCs, PM10, Mercury and others), and | | | | activity anyway. |
| Greenhouse Gases that may lead to global warming | | | | Estimating Air Emissions for Fossil Fuels and Stored |
| (CO2, water vapor, methane and others). | | | | Materials |
| The Clean Air Act and tough EPA standards have | | | | The only emissions monitored are those associated |
| done much to reduce air pollution in US cities. It is | | | | with the burning of fossil fuels and the storage of |
| said that the air in Los Angeles is cleaner today than | | | | some materials which generate toxic emissions. kWh |
| it was 30 years ago. | | | | are not monitored for emissions, and the discussion in |
| The Future of Emissions Tracking and How It | | | | this section does not address electricity. |
| Affects You | | | | There are three ways to monitor emissions of air |
| There has been a raging debate over the past | | | | contaminants: |
| decade about CO2 emissions and global warming. | | | | - Annual or Biannual stack tests. This is a very |
| During the late 90s, it appeared that the United | | | | expensive option. |
| States was on the verge of accepting the thesis | | | | - Continual Emissions Monitoring systems (CEM |
| that global warming is due in large part to human | | | | systems). This is also an expensive option. |
| consumption of fossil fuels and consequent | | | | - Parametric Monitoring, also know as AP42. This |
| production of CO2. The Kyoto Protocol was put into | | | | method converts fuel and electricity usage into |
| place to address CO2 emissions. However, the Kyoto | | | | emissions amounts using EPA emissions factors. This |
| Protocol was never ratified by Congress during the | | | | is the least expensive and most common method. |
| Clinton years (neither Democrats or Republicans took | | | | - The EPA usually will accept emissions data gathered |
| a liking to it), nor does it appear that it will ever be | | | | using the AP42 method. However these emissions |
| ratified in this country. As well, many are now arguing | | | | factors are averages and are based upon older less |
| that Global Warming may have little to do with | | | | efficient equipment and may err on the high side. As |
| human activity at all. As the Arctic permafrost melts, | | | | a result some may choose alternative methods of |
| more are now arguing that the planet is still | | | | tracking emissions. |
| recovering from an ice age a thousand years ago, | | | | |